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Salleh Man To Stay On As MAINPP President

GEORGETOWN – The sole PAS assemblyman in the 40-seat Penang State Assembly Datuk Mohd Salleh Man will stay on as the president of the Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) despite PAS opting to exit the state government and become an opposition party in the state.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the DAP-led state government was not practising favouritism in the matter but instead upholding the “family spirit” because the assemblyman displayed loyalty and was willing to serve the people.

“We are an inclusive government. Yes, he is still a PAS member but is willing to support the state government,” he said when replying to a question from Datuk Mohd Zain Ahmad (BN-Penaga) at the State Assembly sitting here today.

Mohd Zain had wanted to know if Mohd Salleh would be fired from the post following the state government booting out Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) members who are from PAS in the state.

Yesterday, PAS secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan had announced that PAS was left with no choice but to break away from Pakatan Rakyat (made up of DAP, PKR and PAS) in Penang following the sacking of 300 Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK) members who are from PAS by the state government.

At the sitting today, Mohd Salleh remained sitted among the backbenchers.

Meanwhile, Penang opposition leader Datuk Jahara Hamid, speaking to reporters at the lobby of the State Assembly building, said the Permatang Pasir assemblyman should be a gentleman about the matter and decide whether he still wanted to remain with PAS or switch sides.

Mohd Salleh, when approached by Bernama, however, reiterated that he was still a PAS member but would continue to serve the state government.

“I have not received anything in black-and-white from PAS’s headquarters (about the party being in the Opposition). So for today’s sitting (of the State Assembly) I remained seated among the backbenchers,” he said. – BERNAMA